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Learning from Their Mistakes – or Not
Fox News has had small groups of Democrats on their programs who are testifying that they are voting for Republicans this time around, even though they were devout Democrat voters in the past. They name the usual areas of unhappiness: inflation, crime, and the borders. I’m glad to see them coming around. But I would like to see the interviewers asking more in-depth questions, not to persuade these voters to become Republicans, but just to pique their curiosity about the Republican positions. Here are some of the follow-on questions I’d like to ask:
Me: So, you’ve decided to vote for Republicans this time. I assume that means you hold the Biden Administration and the Democrats around the country responsible for the poor state of our nation. Is that a fair assumption?
Them: (Expect some version of “yes.”)
Me: To what degree do you think the poor decisions by the Democrats are driven by the Progressive wing of the party?
Them: (Some version of “much of them.”)
Me: Do you anticipate the Progressives will continue these policies, or will they pull back now that they’ve seen the results?
Them: (Mixed, confused responses)
Me: If the Republicans have some success over the next two years in the areas that you identify as problematic, what would that tell you about the Republican policies?
Them: (Some version of “they seem to be working—so far.”)
Me: If the Republicans have some success, but the Democrats continue to condemn them, how will that affect your political viewpoints?
Them: (Confusion)
Me: If in the next two years Republicans have some success in terms of reducing crime, reducing inflation, and securing the border, how do you think your vote will be affected for the 2024 election?
Them: (Confusion and defensiveness)
Me: Thank you for your honesty and candor.
* * * *
My goal in having this discussion would not be to persuade anyone of anything. I realize that their only measure of success may be extremely positive outcomes. Instead of winning them over, I’m trying to create a little gap in their traditional certainty about their positions, about Democrats and about Republicans. I would love to see confusion—they can either decide to dig into their Democrat/Progressive positions even further. Or they may start to consider that it’s time to reconsider their priorities and vote to support them. I will hope for the latter choice.
Steve Hayward on the Ricochet podcast said that he thinks Progressives will double down, and I think he’s right, which will damage their credibility even more. My hope is that Democrats realize that possible outcome, too, and watch it unfold.
The future of the country may depend on it.
Published in Elections
Press on, Susan!
The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, but that’s the way to bet when you’re anteing up the rent money.
At this moment, these folks may be at their most receptive. We should not let them off the hook!
The two big parties are branding tools for voters. Which brand is going to be the better product (implements better policies) is a choice voters get to make every 2 years. Brands get loyalty by *doing*, not talking. We know the DNC is controlled by Commies and has little chance to fix itself for a decade. The question is whether the GOP will embrace the New Right in actions or stay as the do-nothing lipstick on the uni-party establishment pig. Remember, the GOPe controlled both houses of Congress during the Russia-gate hoax.
I’m with you, DonG. Regardless of Biden’s being in the WH, the Reps better find a way to get things done.
I realize a lot of people are thinking that these Dems will just go back to their old ways. That’s highly likely if we don’t plant a seed that wiggles its way into their thinking that maybe, just maybe, they are the ones (not just Republicans or their constituents) who will benefit most by considering Republican policies. It might actually bring a little bit of sanity into the election process. Maybe those nasty Republicans aren’t as evil as we’ve been told.
This OP doesn’t even address the issue about whether these Dems realize they are being consistently lied to by the Dems and the media, although from polling about their perception of the media, they are becoming more and more suspicious.
Expect a Republican Senate majority to be reduced by one in number if we get leadership that will do something. Kentucky, after all, has a D governor and he will appoint any senator’s replacement if he should choose to resign. (Hint, hint: it won’t be Rand Paul.)
So you can’t imagine Mitch leaving his leadership post and just being an ordinary Senator?
Oh, certainly not. What Mitch is playing for is a 51-seat majority so he can hold the caucus hostage.
The OP is on point. You have to open a mind before you can engage it. Try to pry and it will resist. Use an existing crack and just make it a little bigger — wash, rinse, repeat.
If the great employment rates and low energy prices etc of the Trump years didn’t convince them, what could?
If those Dem voters really need to get whacked with a clue-by-four every two or four years because they keep going back to their old stupid candidates/party, I’m not sure how they could ever be shifted for the longer term.
The ones I know keep thinking that once someone like Trump gets things humming again, they can go elect a corpse like Biden to start the freebies again, and nothing else will change.
Most important to them was that they hated Trump. His policies were irrelevant.
They were mostly TOLD/PROGRAMMED to hate Trump, and they will be for any other Republican too. Which suggests again that the message they should receive, would never be allowed to get through.
How about if we had these kind of focus groups all over the country? I’m not sure who would sponsor them; it should probably not be an organization that is directly affiliated with the Republicans. Kedavis, I think the times are shifting, and I’m not ready to give up. And I can’t imagine that a candidate like DeSantis would lead to the anger that Trump wrought. They hated him in parts of Florida, but even the hatred was low-tempered.
Actually, I think that Trump’s policies were why they decided to hate him. I mean the decision-makers who control the left-leaning masses, and apparently a not-insignificant portion of the GOP.
I think, though, the decision-makers in either group are a tiny portion of those who voted. And those who voted listened blindly to those who condemned Trump’s policies. I don’t think the distinction between the leaders and the nation’s voters make a difference, if the voters are listening to them. But apparently for this election, people are not so easily convinced by the propaganda. Their own eyes tell them differently.
Yes. Well, I’m not sure how closely this fits with the point of you post, but I see two basic kinds of thinking. One is the decider group (leaders). And the other one is two groups, both followers; those who vehemently embrace leftist propaganda, and that greater group of those who just go along and thoughtlessly believe.
I still think that one good pointed message from the mostly-leftist leaders on high and the great majority of those followers who just go along will change there thinking in a month or three. And of those vehement followers, that is those whose identity is tightly bound up with the angry and “victim” progressive movement, will be less likely and slower to change their views, and a best take a couple of years. But my guess is that the vehement group are a small vocal subset.
But still the bulk of the followers will turn on a dime and follow whatever, say, 0bama, says.
Even if he said the exact opposite last week, or yesterday.
Please remember that you can not change a leftist’s mind. They do not use their minds, they operate from their emotions. You need to appeal to their emotions, since reason is always ineffective.
As I said, in this initial discussion I don’t expect to change anyone’s mind. But it is possible if they think over the discussion, they may just ponder the positions they have taken in the past, and the ones they are taking this time around. I won’t be around to bang them on the head to ponder, but I would plan on planting a seed. You never know which seeds will take root. Just think of the Lefties who have changed sides on their own volition, and have brought many others voluntarily with them.